The New York Liberty have finally claimed their first WNBA championship, defeating the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in a nail-biting Game 5 overtime thriller on Sunday night. The victory ends years of near-misses for the Liberty, one of the league’s original franchises, who had reached the Finals five times before, only to fall short.
Jonquel Jones led New York with 17 points in a low-scoring, defensive battle that required an additional five minutes to determine the winner. The win marked New York’s first basketball title since the Knicks’ NBA championship in 1973, giving the city a long-awaited moment of basketball glory.
With star players Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu struggling offensively, it was the role players who stepped up when it mattered most. Leonie Fiebich opened the overtime period with a critical 3-pointer, followed by a steal and layup from Nyara Sabally that pushed New York’s lead to 65-60. The crowd of 18,090, a sellout at Barclays Center, erupted as the Liberty took control of the game.
Minnesota struggled offensively in overtime, missing all six of their field goal attempts. Their only points in the extra period came from two Kayla McBride free throws with 1:51 left. McBride, who finished with 21 points, had a chance to send the game to overtime in regulation but missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer as time expired.
Jones, the Finals MVP, was emotional after the game, reflecting on the numerous times she had come close to a title in her career. “I could never dream of this. You know how many times I’ve been denied. It was delayed. I am so happy to do it here,” she said.
The Liberty’s victory was sealed when Stewart hit two free throws with 10.1 seconds remaining in overtime. Stewart, who had missed a crucial free throw at the end of Game 1, delivered under pressure this time, sending the Liberty players and fans into celebration as streamers fell from the rafters.
Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier led all scorers with 22 points but fouled out with 13 seconds left in overtime. The Lynx, chasing a record fifth WNBA championship, were attempting to surpass the Seattle Storm and Houston Comets for the most titles in league history.
This WNBA Finals series was one of the most closely contested in recent memory, with all five games being decided by just a few possessions and featuring two overtime games. The series drew record TV ratings and attendance, with the Liberty’s home crowd setting a new Finals attendance record.
Liberty fan and filmmaker Spike Lee, who was courtside wearing a Sabrina Ionescu jersey, was part of the raucous crowd that witnessed New York’s historic win. For a franchise and a city that had long waited for a basketball title, the Liberty’s triumph delivered a moment of pure joy.
